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Every contribution matters as we walk alongside communities, cultivating lasting wellness, hope, and justice through shared restoration and generous support that reaches beyond a moment into future generations. Give Every contribution matters as we continue walking alongside our communities and building something with meaning, purpose, and long-term impact. Your giving, whether directly to us or to other like-hearted collaborations, joins a larger story of restoration, hope, and justice unfolding in our neighborhoods. Your generosity becomes part of a shared journey, one where people’s real experiences, challenges, joys, and longings meet God’s ongoing work of renewal. And whether your path has been shaped by resilience, overwhelming grief, perseverance, or steady faith, your action helps spark movement toward healing that reaches beyond a single moment and into future generations. My family and I genuinely appreciate you for being a connector, a co-creator, and a collaborator in cultivating wellness rhythms that honor every story and every season of life. Your support means more than we can fully express, and we hold it with gratitude and humility. Thank You So Much! Ways to Give Paypal Venmo Zelle Linktree "What is important is how well we love. God will make our love fruitful, whether we see that fruitfulness or not." ~ Bread for the Journey A Sacred Thread (A brief note about my heritage)

Spiritual Direction sessions offer guided reflection, spiritual companionship, and soul care practices that support discernment, healing, and deeper connection with God. Complimentary Call Let’s take a moment to connect. Listening, learning, and exploring together how Soul Care and Spiritual Direction can nurture freedom, healing, and hope. Let's Connect Spiritual Direction An invitation into a sacred rhythm where your story, sorrows, and longings are held, your hidden strength is honored, and your transformation is companioned with care. Spiritual Direction Soul Care Mini-Retreat A space for groups to gather, rest, and receive spiritual care. Participants are invited to reflect, be supported, and explore practices that nurture both themselves and one another. Soul Care Mini-Retreat Why Spiritual Direction? A Journey of Transformation Why Spiritual Direction... because Spiritual Direction transformed my life when I needed it most. In one of my lowest moments, I finally raised my 'surrender flag' (literally, raised my hands!) and opened myself to the gift of spiritual directors and spiritual mentors. They walked with me as I faced the pain I had buried for far too long: overwhelming grief, stress, trauma, shame, anxiety, fear. All of it had been held behind protective armor I believed would keep me safe. There was something about the way they held space helped soften what felt impossible to face. I slowly began reclaiming parts of myself I had lost along the way. Still, it was two defining invitations that drew me deeply into this sacred path. The 'First Invitation' was the courage to name the wound. It began through a dream… unsettling and deeply embarrassing. Something buried in my soul surfaced without warning, forcing me to confront my own sexual brokenness. I tried everything to make it go away: prayer, healing services, repentance, striving. Yet the thoughts lingered. Shame whispered that I was beyond help. When I finally shared this with a trusted spiritual companion, her response surprised me. Instead of condemnation, she offered compassion and said simply, “Cynthia, you’ve been wounded. Those words settled into my body like truth I had been afraid to claim. I wasn’t defective. I wasn’t beyond repair. I was wounded. And Jesus, the Wounded Healer, was not turning away. He was inviting me into restoration. That moment marked the beginning of my interior work toward sustainable freedom. The 'Second Invitation' was wrestling with justice. It was a defining moment emerged through my own family story. My auntie, a fierce civil rights advocate for African American nurses, worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to break barriers in the medical field. She fought for equity, dignity, and spaces where Black nurses could thrive. Yet in her final years, I witnessed exhaustion, disappointment, and the heavy cost of battles fought without the rest she deserved. I struggled with God. More honestly, there was a burning indignation in me that I could not quiet. My anger reflected the emotional weight of those who have been unjustly cast into wilderness places, unseen and discarded. I could not reconcile what I was witnessing with the version of faith I had inherited. A faith entangled with individualistic caste-like ideals, promising ease for the faithful while overlooking the wounds of the marginalized and oppressed. What I encountered was not the life of Jesus as I had come to know it, but a theological derailment clothed in religious language, masking injustice and silencing the cries of the wounded. Yet in that wilderness, something shifted. I was drawn back to the justice of God... not a justice formed by prosperity logic or merit, but the embodied presence of a God who sees, who stays close, who does not abandon the wounded. I had felt dismissed and unseen. Still, my anger did not disqualify me. It became a doorway into lament, into righteous grief, into deeper truth. Even there, God was inviting me further: not only to grieve injustice, but to confront the emotional and spiritual structures within me, the unexamined desires and instincts, the inherited ways of seeing and surviving, that could subtly mirror the very systems of empire and religious entitlement I longed to dismantle. The Power of Spiritual Direction & Strength in Surrender Here, in the tension between lament and hope, I began to embrace the layered work of healing... an inside-out transformation that could not be hurried. As I surrendered to this vulnerable path, an unavoidable truth resurfaced: to love my neighbor as I love myself . I had to ask hard, compassionate questions. How am I actually caring for myself with love? What happened that required so much self-protection that it began to shape, and at times limit, how I love others? I could no longer repress, suppress, or hyper-spiritualize my pain and struggles. They emerged fully... not demanding perfection, but inviting honesty. Vulnerability. Truth. Compassion. Grace. As I allowed myself to move through the process... naming grief, embracing what some clinicians and wellness practitioners refer to as ' clean pain ', and letting truth rise... something emerged. A liberation I had longed for, often without language, started to take root. Slowly, freedom unraveled patterns that had subtly kept me captive: ways of thinking and reacting shaped by fear, control, and longings I hadn’t yet known how to name. I became aware how these forces had shaped my imagination and guided my decisions beneath the surface. And yet, as I entrusted myself to the Healer, I found a steadier anchor. I was being redeemed not only from pain, but from a kind of inner captivity that had once helped me survive. I learned to honor my body as bearing God’s image. To receive rest as a sacred gift rather than reward. To discover unexpected strength through lament. I was being freed into a new way of living... new habits, renewed thought patterns, and an imagination reshaped by Love rather than fear. Purpose in Spiritual Direction & Networks of Freedom One of the most life-changing truths I have learned is this: soul work is never meant to be done alone. Healing is communal. Formation is relational. None of us arrive at truth by ourselves. The voices of those who encouraged, challenged, and walked with me revealed the sacred interconnectedness of our healing. The wisdom and endurance of my ancestors became a guiding thread, reminding me that my interior life is never a private project. The Spirit forms us internally so that God’s love may be made visible externally. Therese Taylor-Stinson names this truth beautifully in Walking the Way of Harriet Tubman: “The more connected I am to those committed to freedom in my own life, the further I am able to travel in my own trek to freedom. Networks of freedom have supported my own growth, and I have built networks of my own to sustain and affirm the viability of community.” Her words continue to invite me, again and again, into soul care communities that cultivate freedom, and into the sacred work of creating spaces where others can experience that same liberation. Now more than ever, I see community as a lifeline, an ongoing invitation to grow, build bridges, and sustain this path of belonging, worth, renewal, and purpose that God longs for us to walk together. A Sacred Thread (A brief note about my heritage) Courtesy Disclaime r At Urban Wellness Living, the hope is to offer a space where people can tend to their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being in ways that feel honest, human, and rooted in God’s presence. Many of us arrive carrying grief, questions, fatigue, longing, or simply the desire for a deeper, more integrated way of living. Here, you are invited to come as you are. Nothing to fix. Nothing to prove. Spiritual direction offers room to slow down and pay attention… to the places within you that are asking for care, to the movements of God that may be subtle or surprising, and to the stories shaping how you live and love. This is not a path of striving or perfection, but a caring walk marked by curiosity, courage, compassion, and trust. It is also important to name clearly that Urban Wellness Living, including the Spiritual Direction and Soul Care Advising services I offer, is not a substitute for licensed counseling, psychotherapy, or medical diagnosis. When support from a trained mental-health professional is needed, seeking a qualified, licensed provider is both wise and life-giving. I am always willing to help you discern what kind of support best honors your needs in this season. In our work together, held with confidentiality and care, the focus will be on noticing what nurtures your growth, your resilience, and your experience of God’s nearness. This may include exploring holistic spiritual practices, reflecting on patterns in your life rather than judgment, or connecting you with additional community or professional resources when helpful. At its heart, spiritual direction is a shared listening… to your story, to your body and spirit, and to the God who meets you right where you are.

Financial Wellness at Urban Wellness Living supports your financial well‑being with resources and perspectives that help you build confidence, make wise money decisions, heal unhelpful money patterns, and strengthen your community and family relationships through shared financial care and support. Financial Wellness Resourcing Wellness in Community Financial Wellness is the practice of cultivating and mobilizing a diverse web of resources that champions and empowers financial health and well-being for all humanity. It is the ongoing work of creating and repairing a world where we are informed, supported, and able to discern wise and life-giving financial decisions, moving with confidence toward actions that honor our basic human needs. In this way, financial wellness becomes an invitation: to release scarcity-driven fear, to heal our relationship with money, and to build a collective movement of care and shared responsibility. It is a momentum that nurtures our families, strengthens our friendships, and restores our communities... both now and for generations to come (II Cor 8). SAINTWELL, is a contemplative space exploring money, meaning, and living well beyond scarcity. At the intersection of ancient wisdom, modern science, and Spirit, we offer shame-free pathways toward healing, wholeness, and true belonging. Learn More John Hope Bryant Operation Hope Our mission is to advance economic opportunity by providing the tools they need to reach their goals. We help individuals of all ages by offering financial education, one-on-one coaching, courses on credit score improvement, as well as pathways toward homeownership and starting a business. BiggerPockets Rookie Podcast The Real Estate Rookie Podcast Our real estate investing podcast for beginners featuring interviews, real-world deal analysis, and listener Q&A. Tiffany the Budgetnista Aliche Get Good with Money As a successful pre-school teacher with a healthy nest egg when a recession and advice from a shady advisor put her out of a job and into a huge financial hole. As she began to chart the path to her own financial rescue, the outline of her ten-step formula for attaining both financial security and peace of mind began to take shape. Jasmin Shupper Greenline Housing Foundation Greenline Housing Foundation is that solution. Stewarding anger and translating it into righteous action to bring about lasting change, Greenline is providing down payment grants, home maintenance grants, and financial education to qualified people of color to help restore justice. BiggerPocket Money Podcast Want Serious Passive Income? Try Private Money Lending Private money lending has been mentally squared away as “something mega-wealthy people do.” Most investors will write off lending money because they think they lack the experience or funds to do a successful deal. What if private money lending requires less money than thought. Mellody Hobson Priceless Facts About Money Priceless Facts about Money by Mellody Hobson is a children's non-fiction book that demystifies finance through fun facts, covering topics like the history of currency (from chocolate to meteorites), the origins of banking, and the meaning of symbols on money. READY TO JOIN OUR WEALTH JUSTICE MOVEMENT? GET IN TOUCH WITH 10SEVEN. At 10SEVEN, we address financial trauma at the root of the problem. Learn More Camelback Ventures Vision & Work Camelback Ventures MISSION | Camelback Ventures increases access to opportunity for entrepreneurs of color and women by investing in their ventures and leadership while advocating for fairness in their funding. Real Estate Investor Henry Washington Racial Disparity in Real Estate and How To Fix It Click Here. Henry is a real estate investor, author and has used processes and principles to achieve financial freedom. He desires to share them with others so that they can change the financial landscape of their family forever! Attorney Edmund Yan Tree of Life Law Firm Most people are overwhelmed by the complicated legal process of estate planning. We simplified it with our award-winning process to give you the most complete plan so you can feel confident that everyone and everything you love is taken care of. Budget App EveryDollar No matter what you want to do with your money, it starts with a budget. Don’t cross your fingers every time you swipe your card. When you have a budget, you can spend and save with confidence. Say goodbye to that overwhelmed feeling—because you’re about to start taking control of your money. Jordan Grumet Taking Stock Written by a hospice doctor with a unique front-row seat to the regrets of his dying patients. The goal of financial independence is to have the economic fuel to live a full life and avoid regret. Taking Stock is your guide to taking control of your finances and investing in yourself. Bola Sokunbi Clever Girl Finance Founded by Bola Sokunbi, we are a mission-driven company aimed at providing women with much-needed financial guidance and support to build financial confidence and make smart money decisions in their day-to-day lives. Association of African American Financial Advisors , AAAA has been committed to fostering the professional growth of Black/African American financial advisors, planners, and affiliated professionals while also advocating for increased diversity in the wealth management industry. Learn More Dave Zoller, CFP Streamline Financial Services Achieve Your Successful & Secure Retirement WITHOUT A Financial Advisor Ramsey Solutions The 7 Baby Steps You can take control of your money! Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps will show you how to save for emergencies, pay off all your debt for good, and build wealth. It’s not a fairy tale. It works every single time! Vanguard Vanguard | The Value of Ownership Can estate planning feel like an act of love? Can a financial partnership lead to quality time with your family? Can your investments build a stronger community? How can financial advice enable generational wealth for the Black community? Financial Wellness Guides Urban Wallet We equip urban millennials with real-time money management concepts and tips to increase our efficiency, wealth and prosperity through investing OUR CASH. Gender Equity & Economic Security American Association of University Women We’ve led the fight for fair pay and economic opportunity for women, and the battle continues: Women still get just 83 cents for every dollar paid to a man, and men continue to dominate the top roles and highest-paying professions. Make Money Better Healthy Rich Race and culture are two factors that can be very important, not only because of the influence of external social and historical factors but also because of internal cultural factors and beliefs. BIPOC looking for financial advice sometimes need information tailored to our experiences as racialized people. Video About Dinner Table Dinner Table We believe that the foundation of a successful and fulfilling life lies in the ability to create value. Our mission is to empower parents to instill this crucial mindset in their children, ensuring they grow up to be confident, capable, and financially competent people ready to take on the world. Sparkle Acrey Escrow Officer Sparkle Acrey has 30 years of experience, offering expert guidance and support throughout the escrow process. Ensuring smooth and secure transactions for all parties, her extensive knowledge and dedication make her a trusted resource in the field. MoneyTime Blog MoneyTime We are an online financial literacy program for kids ages 10 to 14. The program teaches children how to manage their own money and what they’ll need to know to make smart financial decisions as they get older. About Credit Karma Credit Karma We are money calculators that can help you estimate your savings, see how compound interest works, and much more. About Rocket Money Rocket Money Managing money is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone. Rocket Money empowers you to save more, spend less, see everything, and take back control of your financial life. About Financial Wellness Financial Wellness (TBD) Text and Context A Gardener's Tale, originally created by Camara Phyllis Jones, reveals how layered forms of racism become embedded in systems and conditions, shaping outcomes, opportunities, and financial well-being across generations. Video Groundwork Reads

Guidance for emotional and mental health that nurtures resilience awareness and deeper spiritual and personal growth. Resourcing Wellness in Community Emotional & Mental Health "Emotional and Mental Health are not separate from spiritual maturity... they are woven together. We cannot grow spiritually while abandoning our emotional life. When we ignore our emotions, we turn away from what is real. But when we listen, when we allow ourselves to feel, we return to reality. And it is there, in the honest and tender places, that we meet God. Emotions are the language of the soul, the sacred signal that gives our hearts permission to speak (adopted from Peter Scazzero). Counseling & Therapy Black & African American Therapists Psychology Today for Communities of Color Oaks & Stones (Therapy for Asian Americans) Fuller Psychological & Family Services Black Men Heal Faithful Central Champion Counseling Center Emerge Counseling Ministries Emmada Pscychology La Vie Counseling Center WellNest | Emotional Health & Wellness Black Christian Therapy Grow Therapy Inclusive Therapists Hope Trauma Therapy Herhealing Community Your Healthcare Provider | Please check with your Primary Care Physician (PCP) and healthcare provider for therapist and counselor options. They may not only provide the services you're looking for but also offer benefits that could help reduce cost. Selecting the appropriate Counselor or Therapist is a deeply personal process, requiring careful consideration of various factors. Please discern diligently to identify the qualities and expertise that align with your specific needs and preferences. Counseling Therapy Trauma Informed Care Centers Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services National Institute for the Clinical Application The National Child Traumatic Stress Network National Alliance on Mental Illness Psychology Tools Quest Movement Healing Center National Institute of Mental Health Goodsky | Adverse Childhood Experiences ACE Aware | Screen Treat Heal Trauma Healing Institute TraumaWise | Family & Communities Restored Gobi | Middle & H.S. Drug & Alcohol Prevention The Kids Mental Health Foundation American Academy of Child & Adolescents Mindful & Somatic Practices Resmaa Menakem | Somatic Abolitionism UCLA Mindful Guides Smiling Mind Johns Hopkins Medicine Somatic Self Care Rev. Lisha Epperson | Your Sacred Yes Understood NCHPAD Dr. Tina Armstrong Living Connected Dr. Erin Baute | Behavorial Psychology Light Mindfulness Practice Videos & Guides Mindful Practices Videos & Guides View More Healing Racial Trauma Groundwork Videos & Reads. View More Text & Context Readings on Reparative Healing. View More HEALING begins with noticing what has disrupted our sense of connection, to ourselves, to community, to purpose, to possibility, and to God. It takes real courage to pause long enough to listen, to advocate for our own becoming, and to receive what God's love offers: the slow, steady repair of truth, identity, belonging, and worth within our bodies, souls, and spirits. Healing is not a finish line. It is not the message that says simply get over it and all will be well. It is something far more honest and more generous than that. It is a continuing invitation to receive the same nurturing care for ourselves that we so naturally extend to others, held and companioned by a love that does not tire or turn away. At its core, healing asks us to slow down. To listen more attentively, to ourselves and to one another. To remain on the road toward internal and external freedom, not by force or willpower, but by trusting our presence to the One who created us with love and has never stopped tending to us since. SOUL CARE ADVISING is the practice of creating spacious, compassionate ground where our spiritual and emotional roots can be genuinely tended. It invites us to pause and pay attention, cultivating a deeper awareness of ourselves, God, others, and the world we inhabit together. This journey honors the tensions we carry, love and fear, shame and grace, justice and adversity, not as contradictions to be solved or burdens to be eliminated, but as part of the honest, sacred terrain of being human. Through the rhythms of Soul Care, we begin to notice that healing does not wait for struggle to end. It unfolds right in the middle of it, in the pausing, the noticing, and the being accompanied. Over time, rather than striving toward resilience alone, Soul Care Advising nurtures a sustaining sense of truth, identity, and wholeness, drawing us toward liberation and a deeper, more authentic belonging with God and with one another.

My Soul Care Rhythm embodies a profound commitment to care for the soul. In this cherished rhythm, I recognize the intricate orchestra between personal well-being and the greater harmony of community. Rooted in principles of compassion, love, and justice, I believe that nurturing the soul extends beyond individual contentment; it encompasses a collective pursuit of justice and righteousness for the sake of all humanity. The Faith I Share The faith I share is rooted in an ancient confession, written some three centuries after the birth of Jesus... an Affirmation of Faith meant to draw hearts and minds toward the foundational truths that unite us: belief in God*, Jesus Christ* , and the Holy Spirit*. Across generations, these words have been spoken in many Christian communities, offering a steady rhythm of hope and belonging. Yet, even as they remind us of our shared foundation, we recognize that divisions still wound the body of Christ. This Affirmation of Faith gently calls us back... back to the heart of what has the power to bridge our differences and awaken a shared vision of God’s reconciling love. It invites us to hold fast to the living hope we find in Jesus, a hope that transcends the boundaries often drawn by human systems and empire theologies. Just as God’s creation flourishes in radiant diversity... each culture, language, and people bearing its own beauty... we remember that all things, in their time, find their harmony and wholeness in Christ. I believe in God* the One who holds all things together, the Source of life, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus the Christ* God’s beloved Son, our companion and Redeemer. Conceived by the Holy Spirit’s power, born into the world through Mary’s courage, He entered our human story with love. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into the depths of death and sorrow, yet on the third day, He rose again... a sign that love cannot be overcome. He ascended into the mystery of heaven and rests in communion with God, from where He will come again, restoring justice and mercy among the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit*... God’s breath still moving through creation, forming one sacred family of faith*. In the Spirit we are joined with all who have gone before us... the communion of saints, the gift of forgiveness, the promise of resurrection, and the life that has no end. Amen. God God, the One who holds all things together... is both strength and tenderness, mystery and intimacy. The Source of all life, God creates and sustains heaven and earth through boundless love (Genesis 1:1-2; Colossians 1:16-17). Scripture reveals God as Father and Mother, a Presence who comforts as a mother comforts her child (Isaiah 66:13) and who shepherds with steadfast care (Psalm 23:1-4; John 10:11). This Divine Love shapes us in wisdom and compassion, calling us to live in harmony with creation and with one another (Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:9). Made in the Image of God To be made in the image of God is to bear the reflection of Divine Love... a love that is both powerful and nurturing. Within each person lives the capacity for strength, creativity, tenderness, and mercy (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 139:13-14). God’s image is not limited by gender, culture, or language; rather, it is revealed through the fullness of humanity. In Scripture, Wisdom (Sophia) calls with a woman’s voice, guiding and sustaining life (Proverbs 8:1-3, 22-31). The Spirit, whose name Ruach or Rukha is feminine in Hebrew and Aramaic, breathes comfort and renewal into weary hearts (John 14:26; Romans 8:26). Jesus, too, speaks in maternal imagery, longing to gather his people “as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings” (Luke 13:34). These passages remind us that Divine Love is both fatherly and motherly... forming, restoring, and drawing us deeper into belonging (Hosea 11:3-4; Psalm 103:13). Jesus the Christ Jesus, our Redeemer, was born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth... among the humble and overlooked rather than the powerful or privileged (Luke 2:4-7; John 1:46). As a child, he fled violence and lived as a refugee in Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15). As a first-century Jewish man under Roman occupation, he entered the world without civil standing yet embodied God’s liberating presence among the people (Philippians 2:5-8). Through his life, teachings, death, and resurrection, Jesus revealed the heart of God’s justice and mercy. His words on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and his proclamation in Nazareth (Luke 4:14-21; Isaiah 61:1-3) invite us to love God wholly, love our neighbors as ourselves, and participate in the renewal of creation (Deuteronomy 6:4-12; Matthew 22:34-40; Acts 2:42). In his suffering, Jesus stood with the persecuted and the weary... with the faithful Church of Smyrna and the enduring Church of Philadelphia (Revelation 2:8-11; 3:7-13), showing that even in weakness, Divine strength prevails (2 Corinthians 12:9–10). The risen Christ walks beside us still, the Good Shepherd leading us into truth, healing, and liberation (John 10:14-16; Luke 24:30-32). Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is God’s living breath, present and active from creation’s dawn, still moving through all that exists (Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:30). The Spirit comforts, renews, and guides with tender strength, interceding for us with deep compassion (John 14:16-17, 26; Romans 8:26-27). In Scripture, the Spirit is Wisdom’s voice, leading us toward justice, unity, and peace (Isaiah 11:2; Galatians 5:22-23). The Spirit forms one sacred family of faith, connecting generations past and present, the communion of saints, reminding us that God’s presence cannot be confined (Ephesians 4:3-6; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7). The Spirit is the divine rhythm of life that restores, reconciles, and breathes hope where there was none (Ezekiel 37:9-10; Titus 3:5-6). The Holy Catholic Church The Holy Catholic Church, meaning the universal body of Christ, embraces all who believe in Jesus across time, culture, and tradition (Ephesians 4:4-6; Galatians 3:28). The word “catholic” is not found in the Hebrew or Aramaic Scriptures; it comes from the Greek katholikos, meaning “universal” or “of the whole.” In the traditional creed, it does not refer to the Roman Catholic denomination, but to the worldwide fellowship of all who follow Christ. This sacred family of faith holds the beauty of diversity within unity, reflecting the Creator who delights in difference (Revelation 7:9-10). The Church exists not as an institution of power, but as a community of mercy and justice, called to embody God’s reconciling love in the world (2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Micah 6:8).

Watch meaningful videos and films that explore race, justice, faith, and restoration as well as resources designed to nurture awareness, reflection, and communal healing. Videos & Movies to Watch The Knowledge of Race All Categories Play Video Play Video America’s Unholy Ghosts | The Joel Goza Interview Play Video Play Video Kristin Du Mez Nov 2023 Play Video Play Video Race - the Power of an Illusion Play Video Play Video Isabel Wilkerson - Classifying People By Caste | The Daily Social Distancing Show Play Video Play Video The Origin of Race in the USA Play Video Play Video A Gardener's Tale | A story about systemic racism Play Video Play Video Robert P. Jones — The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy - with Wajahat Ali Play Video Play Video How to Talk to Kids About Race Justice & Reconciliation All Categories Play Video Play Video Reclaiming Faith: A Journey to Restoration Play Video Play Video Racial Reconciliation - Latasha Morrison Play Video Play Video Resisting Racism | The New Family of Jesus | Pastor Rich Villodas Play Video Play Video Choosing Love in the time of Racism | Idelette Mcvicker Play Video Play Video September 27, 1966: MLK—A riot is the language of the unheard Play Video Play Video 'We the People' - the three most misunderstood words in US history | Mark Charles | TEDxTysons Play Video Play Video This Justice Is Not Revenge Play Video Play Video EJI: The Legacy of Racial Injustice Children's Books All Categories Play Video Play Video CML Presents: We March by Shane W. Evans Play Video Play Video I Am Martin Luther King Jr by Brad Meltzer| Books Read Aloud| StoryTimeWithMsMelange Play Video Play Video 'As Fast As Words Could Fly' read by Dulé Hill Play Video Play Video 'Trombone Shorty' read by Angela Bassett Play Video Play Video Children’s Read Aloud 🖍️ | Broken Crayons Still Color by Toni Collier Play Video Play Video Art Book Read Aloud: Gordon Parks Play Video Play Video My Name Is Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz by Monica Brown read-aloud Play Video Play Video Something Happened In Our Town (Read Along Book) Movies to Watch All Categories Play Video Play Video Betty & Coretta: An Extended Preview | Lifetime Play Video Play Video JUST MERCY Official Trailer Play Video Play Video ORIGIN - Official Trailer - In Theaters January 19 Play Video Play Video Official Trailer | Black + Evangelical Play Video Play Video HARRIET | Official Trailer | Now Playing Play Video Play Video God & Country Play Video Play Video Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom | A Documentary from @ourdailybread Voices Collection Play Video Play Video Mapping the Green Book | National Geographic Learn More

Sacred Rhythm of Life and Work offers a soul care pathway of remembering, healing, embodied renewal, and resilience rooted in spiritual formation and justice. Sacred Rhythm of Life & Work Button Button Button Button Button 01 Remembering Remember invites us to gently journey into the landscape of our past. Our stories, our ancestral roots, and the movements of grace and struggle that shaped us. With compassion rather than judgment, we look back and listen. In this sacred remembering, we uncover a spiritual heritage that holds both pain and promise. What we remember with care can become wisdom. What we honor can begin to heal. This remembering grounds us, helping us discern what was, notice what is, and make room for what longs to be restored... within ourselves, our communities, and across generations. 02 Reclaiming One's Story Recliaming One's Story is an act of courage, dignity, and belonging. It is the decision to see our lived experiences as sacred ground... places where God has never stopped dwelling or working. As we name what has been lost, silenced, or overlooked, we reclaim what was always ours: our God-given identity, voice, and worth. This reclamation restores our capacity for trust and love, nurtures authenticity, and invites us into a deeper, more honest walk with God... where renewal is not forced, but received, and wholeness is allowed to take root. 03 Refining One's Soul Refining One's Soul is a necessary and compassionate practice for both personal and communal transformation. Our souls require ongoing tending... spaces to reflect, to notice our untethered instincts, and to hold our limitations without shame. Refinement is not punishment; it is the Spirit’s gentle tilling of the soil within us. Over time, this sacred work forms hearts that embody love in action and live with a growing awareness of our life in God. As our instincts come into harmony with God’s care, our relationships... with God, others, ourselves, and creation... begin to flourish in grace. This refining work leads us toward inner liberation, empowering us to meet life with courage and compassion, and to participate faithfully in God’s redemptive story as people shaped by hope and steadfast love. 04 Rebuilding Movement Rebuilding Movement reminds us that healing is not only spiritual, it is embodied. Through rhythms of rest, stretching, walking, and mindful presence, we return to the wisdom of our bodies and God’s design for renewal. These practices gently repair the inner pathways worn thin by stress, grief, and survival. In movement, we relearn the grace of being alive... grounded, attentive, and responsive to the Spirit’s rhythm of restoration. 05 Resilience Resilience grows over time. It is not the absence of struggle, but the strength formed by staying rooted in God’s faithfulness when life feels uncertain. Resilience steadies our hope and teaches us how to recover with integrity and compassion. As it deepens, it restores our inner freedom, awakens new possibilities, and renews our vision for living in just and loving connection... with God, with others, and with all of creation.

Healing race based trauma through soul care, spiritual formation, and restorative resources that support personal and communal healing journeys. Healing Race-Based Trauma Where to begin! Our desire is that these resources support you in discovering meaningful elements of soul care and reparative trauma healing along your personal and communal journey. As you explore these books, I invite you to notice which one stands out to you. Trust what resonates, what awakens hope, or what brings a sense of grounding... this may be your place to begin. My Grandmother's Hands | Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies Healing Racial Trauma |The Road to Resilience The Body Keeps the Score | Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma The Black Woman's Guide to Overcoming Domestic Violence Trauma and Race | A Path to Wellbeing Open Wounds | A Story of Racial Tragedy, Trauma, and Redemption Suffering and the Heart of God | How Trauma Destroys and Christ Restores Anatomy of the Soul Healing Leadership Trauma Understood Smiling Mind UCLA Mindful Guides Goodsky | Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Light Mindfulness Practice Videos Johns Hopkins Medicine Somatic Self Care Clay Pots Filled with Creator's Power "Our bodies are like old clay pots that have been filled with the sacred gift of his light. This shows that the great power we have does not come from us but from our Creator. Trouble surrounds us and presses in on us, but we know there is always a way out. Even when we do not know which way to go, we never lose hope or give in to fear. We are hunted down and mistreated, but the Great Spirit never abandons us. Even when beaten to the ground, we get up and keep walking. Everywhere we go death bears down on us. Our bodies are dying the kind of death Creator Sets Free died. In this way his life will also be seen in our bodies. It is because of Creator Sets Free (Jesus) that we who are alive are always facing death. It is for this reason that the life of Creator Sets Free will also be seen in our death-doomed bodies. So you can see that we struggle with death, but because of this you have the life of the world to come." (2 Cor. 7-12 FNV) Resmaa Menakem Notice the Rage; Notice the Silence. Listen Sheila Wise Rowe What Do We Do When The Pain Doesn't Stop? (Transcending Racial Trauma) Listen Unchained Documentary Healing Wounds of Generational Trauma Listen Readings on Reparative Healing View More

Lament Lent Prayers offers guided resources, readings, and songs that help you pray through grief, seek justice, and encounter hope during the Lenten journey. Lament as Sacred Formation "The reasons that lament is risky are because it challenges power structures, it calls for justice, and it makes demands on our relationships with the "powers that be," one another, and God. Once lament is released, it cannot be recalled. Lament is risky because we never know until the act is done whether or not we have gone too far. Lament allows the pain to escape and stitches us to our neighbors. We are called to weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn. Our tears are our prayers when we can't speak, a baptism of sorts, salty healing, a sign of our vulnerability, and a liturgical response to violence. Lament is a collective response to tyranny and injustice. When we are confronted with the horror of our violence-laden society, our mindless killing of innocents, we shift from individual sobs to a solidarity cry to collective moans." ~ Barbara Holmes, Crisis Contemplation Prayers & Pathways of Lament From Lament to Partnership: The Christian Response to Racial Injustice In the wake of George Floyd’s death, many churches struggled not only with what to say, but how to respond faithfully amid grief, anger, and moral urgency. Rev. Kelvin Walker and Dr. Soong-Chan Rah lead a thoughtful conversation rooted in the Black experience, Christian lament, and the call to partnership against racial injustice. While shaped by a specific moment in history, this discussion continues to stand the test of time by addressing enduring patterns of racialized suffering and the church’s responsibility within them. The Need for Lament Professor, Author, and Theologian Soong-Chan Rah argues that the deeply rooted triumphalism and exceptionalism in the American society are causing the absence of lament in the American churches. Churches today must not only recognize the need for lament, but also practice the discipline of lament both within and beyond the walls of the church ( Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times ). 'Hold On' A Message of Lament, Hope, and Action for Black Life A message of lament, hope, and action for Black life, “Hold On” calls the church and community to reckon with pain and press into faithful response. Rooted in honest grief and enduring hope, it invites reflection on racial injustice and what it means to stand for justice with love and courage. This message doesn’t settle for surface-level comfort but points toward practical compassion and sustained solidarity. An American Lament This devotional is a journey through America’s history of slavery, segregation, and racism. At times, it may feel like a voyage into the shadow of death. But even in that deep darkness, God is with us and his light is the hope that guides us. Chasing Justice: Lent Dust to Dust: A Lenten Invitation to Liberation ... how can we experience transformation without knowing what needs liberation? The life and death of Christ invites us, for our own integrity, to examine and reconsider how we ourselves have been complicit in corporate and systemic wrong. This forty day journey to deepen our love for Creator and Christ through the Spirit’s transforming power is the invitation of lent. The Center for Formation Justice & Peace We invite you to embark on a transformative Lenten journey that intertwines deep spiritual reflection with the pursuit of justice and peace. We offer a rich tapestry of resources and practices designed to nurture your inner life and inspire outward action. Our offerings aim to deepen your connection to Christlike character while actively engaging in the work of justice. Between the Lines of Asian, Black, and White This piece explores Han theology as a way of understanding the weight of collective sorrow carried within communities and history. It reminds us that the good news of Christ does not move around lament but alongside it. May this reading create space to encounter grief, solidarity, and hope with greater honesty. Related Article: How Grieving Can Make Us Well by Naomi K. Lu 'A Just Lent' Invitation Using A Just Passion: A Six-Week Lenten Journey , and the lectionary, we take a look at various aspects of justice, its importance to God and why the church has often regrettably failed to live out God’s call to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord.” Also, learn about Transforming Center: Love, Lent, and Leadership: Fashioning Your Own Wilderness where we follow the lectionary schedule. Black Liturgies Cole Arthur Riley's Black Liturgies is a contemplative project that combines faith, spirituality, and the Black experience through prayers, poetry, and reflections. It serves as a form of liturgy that acknowledges the unique struggles, resilience, and beauty within the Black community, offering words of comfort, healing, and justice ( Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human ). Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) CCDA is inviting you into a Lenten journey. Excerpts from our Immerse online curriculum will prompt your thoughts and lead you in reflection. We also encourage you to use a 40 day printable prayer drawing provided by Praying In Color . Click here for instructions on how to use this resource to visually and creatively give glory to God this Lenten Season. How Can I Lament? Lament Books and Articles | The process of writing our own lament, using these nine steps modeled after the Psalms: Cry out to God (your address to God); Complaint (your anger, pain, heartache, or sadness); Affirmation of Trust (your remembrance of God’s presence in your past); Petition/Request (your deepest desire); Additional Argument (anything more, why God should intervene); Rage against Your Enemies (bringing your enemies before God); Assurance of Being Heard (what you need to feel heard); Promise to Offer Praise to God (the promise you can offer to God); and Assurance (the attribute of God you are thankful for in the moment). What to Pray When Pain Takes Your Words by Nathan Foster Lamentations by BP Laments express our distress to God as an appropriate response to suffering. Listen Resmaa Menakem Notice the Rage; Notice the Silence. Listen John Onwuchekwa A helpful reframing of grief that has the power to change. Listen Readings on Lament & Lent Prayers View More Songs of Lament to Praise An invitation to sing through lament, find rest in surrender, and be renewed in Hope. Bifrost Arts Common Hymnal A Lament Service Urban Doxology Justice Choir Porter's Gates Mahalia Jackson Hip Hop as Contemplative Form Ruthie Foster Chandler Moore Sweet in the Honey Rock Groundwork Reads

Explore Black and African American religious studies through theology, history, and soul care resources that nurture healing, justice, and spiritual formation. Black & African American Religious Studies Where to begin! My exploration into this collection of books was sparked by a quote from Howard Thurman’s Jesus and the Disinherited: “What does the religion of Jesus offer to those with their backs against the wall?” For Thurman, this question begins with context... Jesus as a first-century Palestinian Jew living under Roman occupation, an outsider in his own land, part of a marginalized and oppressed people without civil protections. As you move through these books, I invite you to listen inwardly and notice which one, gently or boldly, calls your attention. Trust that what resonates, unsettles, or opens something within you is not accidental. It may be an invitation. A doorway. A next place for your own healing, unlearning, and exploration to continue. A Black Theology of Liberation Sisters in the Wilderness: The Challenge of Womanist God Just a Sister Away: Understanding the Timeless Connection Between Women of Today & Women in the Bible Black Church Studies: An Introduction Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance The Cross of the Lynching Tree How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind: Rediscovering the African Seedbed of Western Christianity Jesus and the Disinherited Gospel Haymanot: A Constructive Theology and Critical Reflection on African and Diasporic Christianity African American Religious History Black Theology and Black Power Liberating Black Theology: The Bible and the Black Experience in America Esau McCaulley Reading while Black; The Whole Counsel of God. Listen Jude 3 Project Is Christianity Good For Black Women? by Jude 3 Project. Listen Hush Harbors Black Church History: Hush Harbors Secret Worship. Listen Sermons & Teachings Faith & Works Initiative ( Guidelines for a Constructive Church by Martin Luther King Jr.) View More EARLY AFRICAN CHRISTIANITY BIBLIOGRAPHY Video & Primary Texts by Jude3 Project View More THE BIBLE PROJECT Videos Podcast & Guides View More

Embodied Soul Care resources for spiritual formation, contemplative practice, and healing rooted in justice, embodied faith, and communal renewal. Embodied Soul Care Where to begin! The intention is for these resources to inspire you to discover enriching elements of soul care as spiritual formation... both personal and communal journey. As you look through these books, I invite you to notice which one reaches toward you, trusting that the Spirit often meets us through what resonates in the body, stirs curiosity, or settles us into a sense of peace and hope. Crisis Contemplation: Healing the Wounded Village Disciplines of the Spirit Walking the Way of Harriet Tubman: Public Mystic and Freedom Fighter Sacred Self-Care: Daily Practices for Nurturing Our Whole Selves What Makes You Come Alive: A Spiritual Walk with Howard Thurman Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church Forged in the Fiery Furnace: African American Spirituality The Way of the Heart: Connecting with God Through Prayer, Wisdom, and Silence Embodied Spirits: Stories of Spiritual Directors of Color Anatomy of the Soul The Enneagram for Black Liberation The Complete Enneagram Sisters in the Wilderness: The Challenge of Womanist God The Spirituals and the Blues Kaleidoscope: Broadening the Palette in the Art of Spiritual Direction The Spiritual Work of Racial Justice Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transforms Us African Saints, African Stories: 40 Holy Men and Women Therese Taylor-Stinson Walking the Way of Harriet Tubman, Public Mystic and Freedom Fighter. Listen Lerita Coleman Brown What Makes You Come Alive, A Spiritual Walk with Howard Thurman. Listen E. Tray Clark A contemplative spirituality and preaching in the Black church. Listen

Explore the history of racial compromise through faith, history, and spiritual formation. Discover resources that invite truth telling, justice, and reconciliation. History of Racial Compromise As we honor Black and African American history, we recognize a lineage of faith, courage, and creativity that has shaped our communities, our culture, and our shared spiritual landscape. These stories testify to the power of endurance and the transformative strength of hope… born through artistry, resistance, and collective memory in the face of oppression. They are living legacies, not relics of the past, calling us to witness honestly, learn deeply, and move forward with both humility and determination. We invite you to approach these curated resources as a doorway into the wisdom, insight, and spiritual depth of Black and African American elders, leaders, artists, and storytellers. May their voices guide us toward a fuller understanding of justice, liberation, and the sacred work of community care. Together, let us honor the intersections of sorrow and joy, struggle and triumph, remembrance and renewal, as we walk the cruciform path of Christ… one that honors healing, liberation, redemption, and love. Black History In 2 Minutes Listen ASALH Read More Equal Justice Initiative Read More Black Past Read More How America Invented Race Listen Sojourner Truth African Heritage Read More Fortune Listen The 1619 Listen The Stony Road Listen African American Intellectual Read More Slave Narratives Washington 1941 Read More Color of Compromise Listen History Channel Black History Read More